Looks like Blood Music pressed some Cloudkicker

[anomynous]

Appears to be the first "creative commons" professional release ever

 

https://www.facebook.com/BlooodMusic/posts/693928073997856?stream_ref=10

 

 

 

Insofar as we can tell, the mystery release is the first "professional" open source music release in history.

Our efforts to track down another project of a similar kind have turned up empty. We will explain this all below.

MYSTERY:

First, the reason we chose to keep this release a secret was two-fold:

1) We have been interested in doing a mystery release for some time - to see the reaction from music fans and to also try something different. It is true that the mystery of discovering new music through browsing store shelves and the trading of mix tapes has quickly become something of a dead artform. Additionally, the cycle of preparing releases for us has become a bit of a well-oiled machine and thus needs shaking up a bit to keep from sliding into too much of a rhythm.

2) The mystery band has no idea (to our knowledge) about the nature of these releases and that was somewhat integral to the spirit of this project. We felt we needed to release these records without any information leaking on what they were in order to fulfill the entire scope of working and selling an open source release. This is an uncommon method of releasing music, and we didn't want to attract any potential controversy before the records already made it into peoples' hands. This could be done by quietly leaking copies into distribution - but since we sell about 90% of our records directly - we had no other choice. The only way to avoid any larger potential controversy was to do it in "secret."

ABOUT THE RELEASE ITSELF:

There was one particular artist whose material we wanted to purchase and/or release on vinyl but was never available. We wrote back-and-forth with the artist several times in 2011 and 2012, asking if we could press it - but they declined. More than one year had passed since the previous writing, so we contacted again, asking if the artist would press the material themselves. They told us they did not plan to repress their earlier material, due to losing access to the original files, and the fact that they only wanted to continue forward with the project and not go backwards.

We told the artist that we have experience in restoring materials for high-quality pressing and would be happy to help but received no response.

A week or two later, we stumbled upon the artist's blog by pure accident (only our second time reading the blog) and noticed a post that started:

"I'm not sure how much this really matters or if anyone has ever even paid attention to it, but I just changed all the Creative Commons licenses on Bandcamp to the least restrictive possible, or "Attribution." Basically this means that you can do *whatever you want* with my music so long as you attribute it to me in some way. If you want to use every song I've ever made in your YouTube videos go ahead. Even if you want to use them in a way that makes you money, feel free. Shame on me for not thinking of it first."

For those not familiar with Creative Commons, it's a non-profit organization dedicated to the subject of applying blanket licenses to works that re-assign traditional copyrights in nontraditional manners.

This has become the crux for information, illustration, and photos used in many open source projects, such as Wikipedia.

HOW IT WORKS:

When a work is completed - its copyright stays with the creator. The creator can then re-assign any parts of the copyright it so wishes to another party, and Creative Commons (one of the most notable organizations in favor of copyright reform) has written standard licenses that allow creators to set the copyright of their works to various configurations of "© Some Rights Reserved." instead of "© All Rights Reserved."

This can be for others to use commercially or non-commercially, usually to either spread the work itself as widely as possible for the purpose of disseminating the information or experiment and build upon the original work.

There have been several notable and non-notable cases of Creative Commons non-commercial licenses being used in music releases - usually for the point of non-profit remixing (Nine Inch Nails, Moby) - but this is the first time (to our knowledge) of a label discovering a serious project whose rights were set for 'open sourcing' and made use of them in their intended manner.

BACK TO THE STORY:

This was all a bit too exhilarating for us. A band we've been wanting to work with. A new format of project - one that challenges the traditional band-label relationship and brings it into the 21st century. It was all a bit scary and a bit too exciting, so we jumped on it and raced it to the head of our schedule, to ensure that we'd finally see this music pressed.

WHAT WE DID:

We first checked through all the music we were interested in pressing to ensure the licenses had been set to full open source commercial usage. The artist had set the rights to the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Agreement, which can be found here:

Basic: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Legal license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode

The basic tents:

You are free to:
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
for any purpose, even commercially.

After combing the necessary legal documents, we set out to assess the materials. We had no contact with the artist in creating these works, and we had to dig up the highest resolution materials possible.

Any original artwork that could be salvaged for printing was assessed, and one front cover (MYSTERY 2) had to be totally re-drawn from scratch. Though, we believe we re-drew it so closely that without tipping anyone off to this - they may never have known the difference.

There were not enough original art panels to complete the records, so we had to supplement parts of the artwork, using the artist's other publications as references. We purchased one of the artist's other LPs and scoured Wikipedia for other open source artwork available using Creative Commons licenses and used several of these on the MYSTERY 1 release.

Next, we ripped the highest quality audio available and worked together with one of our mastering engineers to carefully prepare it for vinyl. This took a few passes, but we got something that sounded good.

We submitted the project in secret to the plant and got test pressings back that were some of the best cuts we've ever received.

Full of excitement, we pressed the whole thing and put it for sale as the Mystery releases.

NOW WHAT:

The LPs themselves have almost sold out in pre-order and have now been shipped to everyone. Those of you who pre-ordered will soon discover what you've supported.

And the most incredible part of all this: once you receive your copies - you are also entitled to participate in the fruits of this work. If you somehow see a particular usage for the CD or LP that you receive, you are entitled to use it - free of any claims - and to build upon it for your own, so long as you use the proper methods of attribution in the legal code linked above.

Now that we've broken even on the LPs - we will collect on the profits and donate a percentage of all earnings to the artist themselves, paying them through Bandcamp (so that Bandcamp gets a cut), and making a donation to both Creative Commons and Wikipedia (who made this possible). We will also be donating a good chunk of the CDs and a handful of LPs to the artist for their own enjoyment and/or sale.

FINAL WORDS:

We just want to state for the record that this is not a ringing endorsement for or against copyright reform of any kind. It was an exciting chance for us to work with an artist we've wanted to work with in a very unconventional way. It was a chance to try out a new form for the digital age and to keep expanding our horizons.

We're a bit nervous to hear the artist's thoughts on the subject, due to the new method of usage we've put into practice. We half-suspect this is what they wanted and half-suspect they're going to want to kill us. The whole release is legal and sanctioned by the artist - only done from afar, rather than direct contact. It's not a bootleg, it's something else.

It may or may not be an artist you've heard of before - but we think it's something many of you will enjoy.

And let us know if you re-adapt the work in any serious way.

 

 

 

Links to order:

 

 

Mystery 1 color: http://www.blood-music.com/store-us/product.php?id_product=304

Mystery 1 black: http://www.blood-music.com/store-us/product.php?id_product=305

 

Mystery 2 color: http://www.blood-music.com/store-us/product.php?id_product=306
Mystery 2 black: http://www.blood-music.com/store-us/product.php?id_product=307

[monsterrod]

I read this on the FB this morning. I haven't listened to Cloudkicker before but I'm going to check it out. I'll be interested to see what comes of the Creative Commons release and if it takes off.

[stillused]

Appears to be the first "creative commons" professional release ever

 

https://www.facebook.com/BlooodMusic/posts/693928073997856?stream_ref=10

 

 

 

 

 

Links to order:

 

 

Mystery 1 color: http://www.blood-music.com/store-us/product.php?id_product=304

Mystery 1 black: http://www.blood-music.com/store-us/product.php?id_product=305

 

Mystery 2 color: http://www.blood-music.com/store-us/product.php?id_product=306

Mystery 2 black: http://www.blood-music.com/store-us/product.php?id_product=307

 

Wow.  Thanks for posting this.  I'm a huge Cloudkicker fan so I definitely had to pick up both releases.

[shamrocks]

thanks grabbed both, mystery 1 black is gone, by the way and the other three are down to <7 copies

[mrewest]

WHAT THE FUCK?? If this is pre-Beacons shit on vinyl I'll die. I just blindly purchased both of the /75 variants without much digging into this. Has someone confirmed this is Cloudkicker? All the quotes & info sure does seem to match up. I swear to God if this includes "The Discovery" you have just made me the happiest person alive. That was my number one album I've wanted to get pressed.

[mrewest]

And added the 2nd mystery on black. I'm actually bummed I missed the first one on black haha. Going to make it hard to be a Cloudkicker completionist now.

[stillused]

I'm guessing the 2LP is The Discovery. I'm really hoping the single LP is Portmanteu but it's probably 15:52. I share your excitement though. This is pretty awesome in every aspect.

[mrewest]

I'd rather have Portmanteau

Either way, incredible. First, I never thought in a million years I'd see Cloudkicker live. Then I never thought in a billion years I'd see The Discovery pressed due to Ben saying he lost access to the files. Dreams really do come true lol.

[shamrocks]

And added the 2nd mystery on black. I'm actually bummed I missed the first one on black haha. Going to make it hard to be a Cloudkicker completionist now.

 

had it in my cart and it sold out while i was checking out...always the case

[mrewest]

I'm forever grateful OP posted this. Literally woulda wrecked me if I missed at least snagging 1 copy of either.

That Facebook post DOES say they'd give copies to Ben to possibly sell himself though so there is hope.

[yancey47]

Ordered the mystery splatter when it went up because I'm stupid and into things like that. Sounds like it will be a good one.

[anomynous]

WHAT THE FUCK?? If this is pre-Beacons shit on vinyl I'll die. I just blindly purchased both of the /75 variants without much digging into this. Has someone confirmed this is Cloudkicker? All the quotes & info sure does seem to match up. I swear to God if this includes "The Discovery" you have just made me the happiest person alive. That was my number one album I've wanted to get pressed.

 

 

I'm guessing the 2LP is The Discovery. I'm really hoping the single LP is Portmanteu but it's probably 15:52. I share your excitement though. This is pretty awesome in every aspect.

 

 

I'd rather have Portmanteau

Either way, incredible. First, I never thought in a million years I'd see Cloudkicker live. Then I never thought in a billion years I'd see The Discovery pressed due to Ben saying he lost access to the files. Dreams really do come true lol.

I'm not sure if I can post what they are yet, but you'll be happy.

[scottyrobotty]

I ordered both of these when they went on sale (colored vinyl versions). I haven't heard Cloudkicker before. I'll be selling these if I'm not into it. I'll keep you posted.

[youcanthideit]

In for Mystery 2. 

Only 1 or 2 left.

 

Wish I would had seen Mystery 1 sooner. Cloudkicker is teh shit.

[dawhizz]

In the words of Jack Burton, what the hell.

[davepriz]

wow super bummed i missed this. i can purchase from the eu store but shipping is insane. comes out to just under $70 for mystery 1.

[davepriz]

ahhh shit i couldn't resist and bought the 2lp from the eu store for $70

[mrewest]

I'm real curious to see Ben's reaction to this. I have a feeling he'd be pretty cool with it. He seems very laid back & down to earth. Plus he's the one that made all his music accessible to everyone in any way possible.

[radiatorhums]

Damn, can't believe I didn't notice this in the morning.  Love to see some photos when people start getting theirs.

 

I'm real curious to see Ben's reaction to this. I have a feeling he'd be pretty cool with it. He seems very laid back & down to earth. Plus he's the one that made all his music accessible to everyone in any way possible.

 

I agree, it would be interesting to see what his thoughts are on this.  Creative Commons in general is interesting to me, I need to find time to read more about it.

[RadDonut]

Got both colored variants earlier this morning. This will be amazing and it's really an awesome idea on releasing music to the public.

[Eclipsical]

This is retarded.

[Derek™]

This is retarded.

 

I hope one of the two mystery records is Loop.

[Eclipsical]

 

I hope one of the two mystery records is Loop.

Whip me up a new cover in Photoshop and I'll rip the mp3s.  We'll tag team that shit and have it off to the plant in the morning.  Stunning audiophile quality on 200 gram vinyl.  New alternate artwork.

[anomynous]

This is retarded.

 

Someone sounds mad.

[davepriz]

Whip me up a new cover in Photoshop and I'll rip the mp3s.  We'll tag team that shit and have it off to the plant in the morning.  Stunning audiophile quality on 200 gram vinyl.  New alternate artwork.

 

ha i also find this pretty retarded but at the end of the day i can't be one to complain about this opportunity. i just hope that these specially mastered files are actually as good as they claim can be.